Royal Caribbean this week became the latest -- and by far the biggest -- line to say it'll ban smoking in cabins, following in the footsteps of Disney, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas. The ban will take effect on most ships in January, 2008.

The news isn't completely dire for tobacco junkies. Royal Caribbean says that, unlike on Oceania and Regent, its customers still will be able to light up on cabin balconies. It's a notable compromise in the wake of last year's deadly fire aboard the Star Princess, which some officials suspect was the result of a careless smoker who flung a cigarette off a balcony.